Stamp-rack



W H. NIEMEYER.

STAMP RACK.

W. H. NIEMEYER.

STAMP RACK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1.8, 1917.

1,361,537, Patented Deo. 7, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

` W. AH. NIEMEYER.

STAMP' RACK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. ISI?.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

34 SHEETS-SHEET 3- IIL ing mechanism. Fig. 7 is a view of the parts shown inV unirsi) isra'rl'as WILLIAM NIEMEYER, OF OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND.

STAMP-RACK.

Application led September 18, 191'?.

To @ZZ whom it may concer/a.'

Be it known that l, VILLIAM H. NIE iinxnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owings Mills, in the county of Baltimore and Sta-te of Maryland, have invented certain new and useiul Improvements in Stampltacks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oi' the invention, suoli as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to stamp racks.

@ne object of my invention is to provide a rack having` a movable member capable of supporting a plurality of stamps joined with a hand-operating mechanism and a visual index so that said movable member can be readily stopped in any one ot a plurality of selected positions.

Another object or my invention is to provide a case for said rack so that the rack can be conipletelyV closed when not lin use to prevent the accumulation of dust upon the stamps and the co-acting mechanisms.

Another object of my invention is to provide a plurality or stamp pads, one for each stamp, and means for yieldingly holding said stamps oliE of said pads.

These and other objects oi my invention are 'iully described and explained in the tollowing specilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front view of my improved stamp rack, the sliding door being partially broken away to show one oi the stamps.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the rack shown in Fig. 1, 'looking in the direction of the arrow 2.

Fig. 3 is a view of the rack shown in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow 3.

Fig. 4: is a side view of one oit the stamps and support therefor, the guiding rod and tube being partially broken away.

Fig. 5 .is a detail of some of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail View of the hand-operat- Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow 7. l y Y Fig. 8 is a view of some ofV the parts shown in Fig'. 4; looking in the directionof the arrow 8.

Fig. 9 is a view o' the parts shown in` Fig. 4L, looking in the direction of the ar` row 9. Y

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

Serial No. 191,912.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of the casing along the line 10-10 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. f

Fig. 11 is a view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrow 11.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are details of the indexing mechanism.

15 represents a casing which is formed of a bottom 16, sides 17 and 18, a front 19, a back 2O land a top 21; these parts may be formed of wood, metal or any suitable composition, and joined together in any approved way.

On the inside of' the side 17 there is secured a strip 22 which extends vertically from the bottom 16 to the top 21, and between said strip and the strip 28 secured to the inside of the front 19 of the casing, there is slidably mounted the left side of the frame 23. Y

The frame 23 consists of the left side piece' 24 and the right side piece 25, between which are secured, in any approved manner, a plurality of shelves such as 26-26-26-26 and a top piece 27.

The right side :piece 25 of the' frame 23 is slidably mounted between the strip 29, which is secured to the inside of the side 18 and extends vertically from the top 21 to a point 30 near the bottom 16 and the strip 31, which is secured on the insideof the iront 19. Strips 32--32 are secured on the inside oit' the side piece 18, one of them adjacent to the -strip 29 and the other adjacent to the strip 31, and said strips extend from the top 27 of the iramev 23 when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 2, to the point 30 near the bottom' 16, as shown in said ligure.

In order to provide for moving the frame 23 vertically, the following instrumentalities are provided Four upper bea-ring brackets 33-33-33H 33 are secured on the inside of the top 21, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and two front lower bearing brackets 34-34 and two rear lower bearing brackets 35-35 are secured` on the inside oit' the bottom 16, said brackets being in line with the upper bearing brackets 33, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of the four upper bearing' brackets 433 and the rear lower bearing brackets 35 supportsv a short length of shaft 36, upon which is revolubly mounted a sprocket wheel' such as 37. A shaft. 38 extends through the front lower bearing brackets 34 and upon said shaft there are rigidly secured the sprocket wheels 39-39- A bracket 40 is secured to the bottom of the lowest shelf 26 near its right end and the beginning of the sprocket chain 41 is secured to said bracket by means of the pin 42. The sprocket chain 41 extends downwardly from the bracket 40 around the front sprocket wheel 89 at the right of the bottom 16, then around the rear sprocket wheel 37 at the right of said bottom, then upwardly and around the rear sprocket wheel 37 at the right of the top 21, then forwardly and around the front sprocket wheel 37 at the right of said top, and then downwardly, and the end of the sprocket chain 41 is secured to the beginning thereof by the pin 42.

Thus it is to be noted that the sprocket chain 41 is continuous, but one point thereof is secured to the frame 28 by means of the pin 42.

A bracket 43 is secured to the bottom of the lowest shelf 26 near Yits left end and the beginning of the sprocket chain 44 is secured to said bracket by means of the pin The sprocket chain 44 extends downwardly from the bracket 43 around the front sprocket wheel 89 at the left of the bottom 16, then around a rear sprocket wheel, which is similar to the sprocket wheel 87, shown in Fig. 2, and is mounted in line therewith in a bracket similar to 36, then upwardly and around a rear sprocket wheel which is similar tothe sprocket wheel 37 shown in 1Eig. 2, and is mounted in line therewith in a bracket similar to 86, at the right of the top 21, then forwardly and around the front sprocket wheel 37, at the left of said top, and then downwardly, and the end of the sprocket chain 44 is secured by means of the pin 46 to the bracket 47, which is secured to the top 27 near its left end.

Veights 48-48 are sprocket chains 41 and 44 in any approved manner r--these weights being sufficient to vcounterebalance the weight of the frame 23 and whatever said frame may support, so that said frame will rest in any position to which it may be moved, as hereinafter eX- plained.

In order to move the frame 23, the following instrumentalities are provided A bearing bracket 49 is secured to the side 18 in any approved manner and said bracket is provided with a hole therethrough in which is revolubly mounted the shaft 50.

i1 hand wheel 51 is rigidly secured to the' shaft 50 by means of the key .F2 and screw On the other end of said shaft there is rigidly secured the sprocket wheel by means of the pins :i5-55.

The bearing bracket 49 is so located that the sprocket wheel 54 will mesh with the secured to the sprocket chain 41, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 6, 7 and 10.

0n the periphery of the hand wheel 51 there is mounted a plurality of indicia 56 equal in number to the number of shelves 26 and corresponding to the indicia 57 at the ends of said shelves.

The indicia 57 at the ends of the shelves 26 are preferably literals and each of said shelves also carries a plurality of indicia 58, preferably numerals, which are equal in number to the stamps mounted thereupon, as hereinafter explained.

The lower edge of the front 19 is situated as at 59 and 1 provide a sliding cover 60 having handles 61-61 for raising said cover when the stamps hereinafter described are to be used. The cover is preferably of metal and is arranged to slide in the rabbets 62-62 provided in the strips 63-63, which are secured to the sides 17 and 18 in any approved manner.

in index 64 having a plurality of horizontal lines equal in number to the number of the shelves 26 and having literal indicia at the ends thereof corresponding to the literal indicia at the ends of said shelves is mounted upon the front 19. The horizontal lines are divided into a plurality of vertical series, earh series being indicated by a numeral and said numerals corresponding to the numerals upon the shelves 26.

A table 65 is secured upon the front 19 by means of 'the brackets 66-66.

Strips such.as 67 are secured upon each of the shelves 26 and stamp brackets such as 68 are secured upon said strips by means of screws 69.

Each stamp bracket 68 is provided at its upper end with a slot 100, (see Fig. 11), and the guide 101 is provided at its upper end with the guiding boss 70 in which is slidably mounted the guide tube 71. The guide tube 71 is provided with a flange 72 on its front end and with a nut 7 3 threaded upon its rear end. said flange and nut preventing the withdrawal of said tube 71 in either direction. A guide rod 74 slides freely within the guide tube 71 and a pin 75 liXed in said rod slides freely within the slot 76 provided in said tuba-the purpose of said pin and slot being to prevent disengagement of the rod 74 from the tube 71 in either direction.

A stamp fork 77 fits tightly upon the guide rod 74 and is secured thereto by means of the pin 78. In the holes su' h as 79 provided in the prongs of the fork 77, the stamp pin 80, which lextends some distance on the -outside of said prongs, as shown in Figs.

8 and 9, is rigidly mounted.

Upon the pin 80 and between the prongs of the fork 77, there is revolubly mounted the stamp stem 81 provided at its top with the handle 82 and having secured thereto at its bottom, by means of the screws 83. the stamp 84, which may have any appropriate stamping composition 85 upon its lower sur face.

Directly below the stamping composition 85 a'stamp pad 86 `is set into the recess 87 provided in the shelf 26. There is one stamp pad for each stamp 84 and the stamp pads 86 may be let into the recess 87 as shown, or may be secured to the shelves in any approved manner, the purpose of the individual stamp pad for each stamp being to provide means for inking each stamp with a different colored ink, should it be so desired.

A pin 88 fits snugly within the stamp bracket 68 and extends some distance beyond the face of the bosses 89--89 formed on the sides thereof. VThe guide 101 is revolubly mounted upon the pin 88 within the slot 100.

1n order to hold the stamp 84 in the position shown in Fig. `4 a spring V98 is provided which consistsoftwo similar arms, which arms are joined together by the cross piece 90 whih rests against the front side of the stamp bracket 68. From the cross piece 90, the wire forming the spring extends rearwardly and upwardly as at 91, then makes one or more turns around the pin S8 as at 92, then extends forwardly as at 93, then upwardly and forwardly as at 94; it is then bent into the loop 95 and finally is bent into the right hand holding loop 96 which is adapted to embrace the pin 80, as hereinafter explained. The left hand holding loop 97 of the spring 98 is adapted to embra e the left hand portion of the pin 80 and the rest of said' spring on the left of the stamp bracket 68 is formed in the shape just described with reference to the right side of said spring, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring` to'Figs. 2, 12, 13 and 14, it is to be. noted that stopping pieces 102 are screwed in the side 25, one of said stopping pieces beng in line with the top 27, and there are three other stopping pieces, each of which is in line with one of the shelves 26 excepting the lowest shelf 26.

Fach of the stopping pieces 102 is provided with a slot 103, said slots being parallel with the fiat sides of the top 27 and the shelves 26. An index pin 104, having a hamfered end 105, adapted to enter the slot 103, is mounted toslide freely within the index guide 106v and said pin is provided with a head 107 against which bears the spring 108 whi h is mounted within the enlarged portion 109 of the index guide and spring is retained in place by the screw 110 screwed into a thread provided in the interior of the enlarged portion V109.

1 he index lguide 106 is provided with a reduced portion 111 which slides freely in a hole in the sleeve portion 112 of the index handle 113, and a nut 114 threaded uponvthc inner end of the reduced portion 111 prevents any movement of the portion 111 toward the right from the position shown in Fig'. 12.

The enlarged portion 109 of the index i guide 106 slides freely yin the hole 115 pro- -dex arm 123 which is formed integrally with the index handle 113.

It is to be noted that there is one hole such as 121 for each of the shelves 26 and that each hole is indicated by a literal index such as 124, as shown in Fig. 14. And it is also to be noted, by refereme to Fig. 2, that each of the holes 121 is in line with one of the stopping Vpieces 102; thus, the hole D, see Fig. 14, is in line with the stopping piece that corresponds to the top 27 the hole corresponding` to C is in line with the stopping piece that corresponds to the top shelf; the hole marked B is in line with the stopping piece that corresponds to the second shelf from the top, and the hole marked A is in line with the stopping piece that corresponds to the third shelf from the top.

The operation of my improved stamp rack is as follows 1 The operator, by an inspection of the ndex 64, ascertains upon which of the horizontal lines the stamp he desires to use is indexed. He then observes the literal indexV at either end of said line and the numeral' above the plaee where the desired stamp is indexed.

rl'he operator then grasps the index handle 113 Vand presses same toward the right against the resistance of the spring 116 until the index stop 122 is clear of the hole 121 in whiih it may be resting; he then moves the index handle 113 either forwardly or rear-l wardly until -the index stop122 is opposite that one ofthe holes 121 whi h corresponds to that one ofthe literal indicia 124 that is the same as'the literal index at the ends of the line upon which is indexed the stamp that he desires to use. The operator then releases the handle 113 and the index stop 122 enters the hole 121 and locks the index handle 113 in position, thus locking the index pin 104 in line vertically with the correspondingstopping piece 102.

He then turns the hand wheel 51 until the one of the indicia 56 upon the periphery thereof facing the front of the rack and corresponding to the literal indicia at the ends of said horizontal line approaches the horizontal line 99, as shown in Fig. 2, thus warning him to move the hand wheel 51 slowly in order to avoid shock upon the pin 104 when stopping.

As the desired shelf 26 approaches alinement with the table 65, the rounded portion 126 of the stopping piece 102 will press the chamfered portion 105 of the index pin 104 toward the right, see Fig. 12, against the resistance of the spring` 108 and when said shelf reaches alinement with the table, the pressure of said spring will force the end of the index pin 104iwithin the slot 103 of the stopping piere 102, thus locking the desired shelf 26 in line with the table 65.

The operator then grasps the handle 82 of the stamp above the proper numeral uponthe shelf 26, presses said handle downwardly to bring the stamping composition 85 in contact with the inking pad 86, thus inking the stamp. He then raises the handle 82 to remove the stamping composition 85 from the pad, and then moves said handle toward him, thus removing the pin 80 from the embrace of the holding loops 96 and 97.

As he moves the handle 82 toward him, the rod 74 will slide within the tube 71 and said tube will slide within the boss 70. During this motion of said rod and tube, the pin 7 5 will prevent their disengagement and the nut 73 will prevent disengagement of said tube from said stamp bracket. The operator then presses the stamping composition 85 down upon the article to be stamped and then moves the stamp handle 82 rearwardly and places the pin 88 within the holding loops 96 and 97.

It is to be noted that when the pin-80 is placed as just described., the spring 98 holds the stamp 811 in the position shown in Fig. 4, with the composition 85 olf the pad 86 and, due to the fact that the pin 80 is embraced by the loops 96 and 97, any tendency of said stamp to move forwardly is prevented.

It is also to be noted that by reason of the fact that the guide 101 revolves freely upon the pin 88, the stamp 84 may be freely moved upwardly and downwardly during the motions just described.

It is also to be noted that by reason of the fact that the weights 48 approximately counterbalance the weight of the shelves 26 and their connected parts, said shelves will remain in any position into which they may be moved by the hand wheel 51.

I claim 1. In a stamp rack, the combination with a stamp bracket, of a guiding boss pivotally mounted therein, a guide tube mounted to slide in said boss at right angles to the pivotal mounting of said boss, a guide rod mounted to slide insaid tube, a fork on the end of said rod, and a stamp handle mounted in said fork.

2. In a stamp rack, the combination with a stamp bracket, of a guiding boss pivotally mounted therein, a guide tube mounted to slide in said boss at right angles to the pivotal mounting of said boss, a guide'rod mounted to slide in said tube, a fork on the end of said rod, a stamp handle mounted in said fork, and means for preventing disengagement of said tube from said boss and rod.

8. In a stamp rack, the combination with a stamp bracket, of a pin therein, ay guiding boss revolubly mounted on said pin, a stamp handle, means guided by said boss and including a stamp pin for supporting said stamp handle and a spring supported on said rst-named pin and having loops for yieldingly holding said stamp pin.

4. In a stamp rack, the combination with stopping pieces provided with slots and rounded portions adjacent to said slots, of a spring pressed stopping pin adaptedV to strike said rounded portions and enter said slots, means for slidably supporting said stopping pin, a bracket provided with a hole corresponding to each stopping piece, a spring pressed index handle for moving said stopping pin and an index stop connected to said handle for entering said hole to lock said handle.

5. In a stamp rack, the combination with a casing, of guides' therein, a frame comprising a plurality of shelves mounted to slide in said guides, a stopping piece for each shelf mounted on said frame, said stopping pieces being mutually out of alinement, a stopping pin and means for moving said pin to aline- .:nent with each stoppin@r piece.

In testimony whereof afiixmy signature.

vWILLIAM H. NIEMEYER. 

